Smart Talk Road Trip to the York Rail Trail

What to look for on Smart Talk, Tuesday, May 14, 2019:

Tuesday’s Smart Talk makes a road trip to the York County Heritage Rail Trail at Hanover Junction Station.

Hiking, biking or riding horses on Pennsylvania’s many rail trails are some of the most popular outdoor recreational activites in the state. Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of rails-to-trails construction and more projects are ongoing all the time. In fact, a new stretch of the York County Heritage Rail Trail just opened earlier this month and the Trail will be 28 miles in length when completed next year — making it one of the largest in the state.

Those who use rail trails say there are several benefits, including health and exercise. But rail trails also have conservational, educational and transportation benefits, as well.

The York County Heritage Rail Trail at Hanover Junction has a long history, too. Confederate troops made the North Central Railroad, which ran on what is now the trail, a prime target before the Battle of Gettysburg in the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln stopped at Hanover Junction on his way to deliver the Gettysburg Address in November 1863.

On Smart Talk, we’ll discuss rail trails and why they’re so popular in Pennsylvania.

Guests include Diane Kripas, Division Chief for DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, Tom Sexton, Northeast Regional Director, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Silas Chamberlin, Author of On The Trail: A History of American Hiking, Gwen Loose, Executive Director, York County Rail Trail Authority and Frank Kempf, York County Rail Trail Authority Member.